Category Archives: grace

Everything Glorious

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When I was in college, one of my Christian mentors was a German professor.  He provided rides each Sunday to his Episcopal church and breakfast afterwards.  The worship was quite liturgical and mysterious to my simple tastes.  I often felt overwhelmed by the ancient language, the various postures of prayer, and the classical music.  My mentor gave me one piece of advice to which I still cling.  He said, “Be open to one moment of clarity, of revelation, of God’s presence.  You can’t control when or how, just be open.”  Ever since I have tried to worship with that open, expectant attitude.  It does not happen every week, or even every month.  But, on occasion, the Holy Spirit hits me with  AWE.

This past Sunday I was surprised by awe.   It was just for a moment while our worship team lead us in singing “Everything Glorious” by David Crowder. (You can listen to it on YouTube here http://youtu.be/81dK2Vu1IUs )

The lyrics that struck me are:
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours,
So what does that make me?

Somehow the words broke through my insecurities and masks and I sensed the Holy Spirit being rather direct with me.  I am a participant in glory, not because of my role or behavior or morals or status or accomplishments.   I am a participant in glory simple because God made me so.   And it is the glory of God’s love, revealed in the cross.  It is the glory of God’s grace to makes me so.  

For a moment, as we sang, I FELT the power of that truth. It was surprising how through that simple song God gave me light, hope and joy.  I am thankful that the Holy Spirit, David Crowder and the Resurrection’s worship team gave me that moment of glory and AWE.

When or how has God’s glory touched your life?

Top Ten Children Prayers

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Child Praying

Yesterday I ran across an internet listing of children’s prayers which I have reduced to my top 10.  These prayers you can pray with exceeding joy!

10.  Dear God,
please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now.
Amanda

9.  Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
Joyce

8.  Dear God,
how did you know you were God? Who told you?
Charlene

7.  Dear God,
do you draw the lines around the countries? If you don’t, who does?
Nathan

6.  Dear God,
I keep waiting for spring, but it never did come yet. What’s up?  Don’t forget.
Mark

5.  Dear God,
Is Pastor Keller a friend of yours, or do you just know him through the business?
Donny

4.  Dear God,
I bet it’s very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.
Nancy

3.  Dear God,
I do not think anybody could be a better God than you. Well, I just want you to know that. I am not just saying that because you are already God.
Charles

2.  Dear God,
I am doing the best I can. Really !!!!
Frank

And, saving the best for last   .

1.  Dear God,
I didn’t think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night. That was really cool.
Thomas

I think #2 captures our tremendous need for confession and God’s promise of forgiveness while #1 describes the joy of praising God for the wonder and beauty of creation.   Sometime the simplest prayers are the best.  Romans 8:26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.

What prayers give you joy?

Serenity Prayer

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Serenity in Winter

I have always been a great fan of the Serenity Prayer:

“God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change,
courage to change the things we can,
and wisdom to know the difference.” 

It is used not only at AA meeting, but throughout the church.  The author of the prayer was Reinhold Niebuhr, an American pastor and theologian of the last century.  His original prayer continued

“Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.”

I am one who believes in the power of prayer, but that prayer is not some magic bullet that offers instant results.  Prayer is always based on the ongoing relationship we have with God, and God’s expectations for us.  There are things we are meant to change and we need to discern what they are and our role in the change. Whether at home, at work, or in our congregation, there are attitudes and behaviors that we can change.  Asking for God’s guidance in our relationships and daily life is critical to healthy change.

 Which brings us to those things that we can not change, like the weather.   This winter started early and will probably be around at least two more months.  I know that I can complain about it, but I am asking for serenity to enjoy this day as a gift from God.   I believe there might be some wisdom in that.

How has prayer shaped your life this winter?

“Come and See” Invitation or Command?

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Jesus said, "Come and See"

After Jesus’ baptism, two of JB’s disciples began to tag after Jesus (John 1:35-39).  Jesus spotted these secretive observers and asked a deep question, “What are you looking for?”  I could write my whole Sunday sermon on Jesus’ question. What are we looking for when we come to prayer, Bible study, or worship? 

The two responded with their own question, “Rabbi, where are you staying?”  Again, one could dwell with that question for a long time; where is Jesus staying today?  Where do we find him?  Is he in the obvious or in the hidden? 

Then came Jesus’ response, “Come and see.”   I have often thought of these words as a gracious invitation to explore a relationship with Jesus Christ.  As if Jesus were giving the two followers the choice on whether to stay with him or go someplace else.  In our American culture, we like to have choices, options, possiblities.  We want to decide what we do or don’t do.   And so we see this word of Jesus as a choice.  A choice that seems to ebb and flow in our lives among the many choices.  Some days we respond with joy; some days with hesitation or fear. 

But could “come and see” be more like a command or declaration?   Like when Jesus commands the sea to be calm or when Lazarus is raised from the dead (John 11)?   Later Jesus declared, “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me” (John 6:44).  The two disciples responded as if it was a command. “They came and saw where he was staying” (John 1:39).  

Could it be that our faith is more a gift of God than a heroic choice by us?  I find comfort and hope in the promise that the Father draws me to Jesus.  Some called it “irrestible grace.” Jesus pulls me along, rather than me running to catch up.  The more I think about it the more I am looking forward to preaching on Sunday!

How have you experienced the pull of God in your spiritual life?